Saturday, July 17, 2010

As expected, Devin Smith is back to Turkey. The 29-year-old forward was signed by Besiktas for the next season. Smith, who played for Fenerbahce during the 2008-09 season, arrives to Besiktas after playing last season for Panellinios, averaging 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in the Greek A1 league.

Nikos Pappas, one of the best Greek prospects, is close to stay one more season in Kolossos Rhodes. Bizkaia Bilbao Basket is in talks to extend the loan of the 19-year-old guard, who averaged 7.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per game in the last Greek A1 league. Pappas is a candidate to play with the Greek national team in the next World Championship. On the other hand, Kolossos could also release the American forward Lance Harris after the signing of Pat Calathes.

Tim Bowers could be close to leave Pepsi Caserta, with Scavolini Pesaro now very interested in the 27-year-old American guard. His team last season is tracking the market for a possible replacement, and has already two targets: Kenny Hasbrouck (who finished last season in the Miami Heat) and Aubrey Coleman (from the University of Houston)

Aris continues looking for new acquisitions. Another target of the Greek team is Giannis Kalambokis. The 31-year-old guard, who has played for Panionios during the last three seasons, averaged 11.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in the last Greek A1 league, and could agree to play for Aris Thessaloniki in the next days.

Maccabi Rishon LeZion has made a new acquisition for the next season. The Israeli club has signed Jason Thomas. The 25-year-old American guard arrives to his new team after playing last season for Ironi Ramat Gan, averaging 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in the last Israeli Super League.

Brad Miller will move to the Houston Rockets next season. The 34-year-old center and the NBA franchise have reached to a three-year, $15 agreement. Miller arrives to Houston after playing for the Chicago Bulls during the last season and a half, averaging 8.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in the last one.

Thomas Kelati has another team interested in signing him for the next season. The 27-year-old American guard is a free agent after his contract with Power Electronics Valencia, is now on the radar of Olympiakos. The Greek team was close to sign Kelati last season, but some issues during the physical test aborted the deal.

Scavolini Pesaro has signed Guillermo Díaz to a one-year contract. The 25-year-old Puerto Rican guard is back to Italy after ending last season in his country for the Capitanes de Arecibo. Previously, Díaz played for Angelico Biella from January to April, averaging 7.7 points and 2.0 assists per game in just three games.

Despite the reports of the Italian media about an agreement between Panathinaikos and Romain Sato, the Greek club has slammed out any deal signed with the 29-year-old Central African forward, though admitted an offer for him. Sato, a free agent after his contract with Montepaschi Siena expired, was reported to have agreed to a three-year, $7.5 million deal with Panathianikos.

Romain Sato will finally play for Panathinaikos, according to the Italian media. The 29-year old Central African forward, in Montepaschi Siena since 2006, has reached to a three-year, $7.5 million agreement with the Greek club, despite the offers from Real Madrid and Olympiakos. The current MVP of the Lega averaged 14.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season.

Unicaja and ViveMenorca have reached to an agreement for Miki Servera. The 18-year-old guard will play next season on loan for the recently promoted team. Servera played last season for the affiliated team of Unicaja, Clinicas Rincón, averaging 5.8points and 1.8 rebounds per game in the LEB Oro

Jamont Gordon was reported to be close to reach to an agreement to play for CSKA Moscow, but another important European club could try to interfere. Olympiakos is also interested in landing the 23-year-old American guard, who averaged 14.4 points and 4.6 assists per game in the last Adriatic League for Cibona.

The agent of Esteban Batista admitted to be in talks with Caja Laboral and other European teams, and confirmed that the 26-year-old Uruguayan center won't be back to Baloncesto Fuenlabrada, his team last season, despite being under contract until 2012. Caja Laboral would be willing to offer the 31-year-old Argentinian forward Walter Herrmann (former player of Fuenlabrada) in exchange of Batista, who averaged 14.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season. Unicaja, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Galatasaray are also reported to be interested in Batista.

Joel Anthony will continue playing for the Miami Heat. The 27-year-old Canadian center was re-signed by the NBA franchise to a five-year, $18 million contract. Anthony has played during his entire career as a professional, since 2007, for the Heat, averaging 2.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last season.

Adam Wojcik could move to the Polish 2Liga next season. The veteran 40-year-old forward, former captain of the national team, could decide to move to WKK Wroclaw. Wojcik played last season for Turow Zgorzelec, averaging 6.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in the last PLK.

The future of Jordi Trias could be far from Regal Barcelona. The Spanish team has told the 29-year-old forward to find a new team despite having contract to another year. Trias, in the club since 2004, will be finally the sacrificed player after the arrival of Kosta Perovic to Regal Barcelona, after averaging 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per gamein the last ACB league.

Besides the announcement of thearrival of Tautvydas Lydeka, Scavolini Pesaro also signed Andrea Bartolucci to a one-year contract. The 25-year-old forward arrives to Pesaro after playing since 2008 for Basket Frossombone, where he averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the last Serie B league.

Gerald Green is playing in the NBA Summer League for the Los Angeles Lakers. The 24-year-old American forward played for the first time in Europe last season, averaging 16.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in the last Russian Super League for Lokomotiv Kuban. Green is trying to play again in the NBA, though his agent admitted that he has been in talks with several Spanish teams.

The Miami Heat have signed Dexter Pittman, selected with the 32nd overall pick in the last NBA draft. The 22-year-old center arrives to the Heat after playing during the last four seasons for the University of Texas, averaging 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in his senior year.